Skate sharpener



May 24, 1938. i c, NlCoLET 2,118,617

SKATE SHARPENER Filed April 8, 1937 JNVEN TOR.

C s iani f. Nicolai BY WW A TTORNEY Patented May 24, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to skate sharpeners and more particularly to a skate sharpener that may be applied manually to the blade of a conventional ice-skate.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel device of the type which will be inexpensive as to material and construction, and of compact design so as to be carried in the pocket.

Another object of the invention is to provide a skate sharpener having an abrasive element of cylindrical form which may be turned in its holder in order to provide renewed sharpening surfaces as the need arises.

Another object of the invention is to provide a skate sharpener wherein an abrasive element is exposed so as to readily permit removal of burs formed in the sharpening process.

Other and further objects of the invention will occur as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which:-

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a skate sharpener embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view in elevation showing the method of applying the skate blade to the abrasive surface.

Fig. 3 is an end view in elevation of the device.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side view in elevation showing the manner of removing the burs from the side edges of the skate blade.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, l0 represents the back of the device having two downwardly extending end portions, l l and I2 which are lined so as to offer a holding grip. The back, It) also," has downwardly directed side flanges, l3 and I4 also lined. Centrally of the ends of the back, ID, are a pair of oppositely disposed depressions at l5 and I 6 thereof, forming lugs, I1 and I8, on the under side at the ends of the said back. A carborundum or other abrasive cylinder, I9, is held with a loose fit in a housing, 20, formed of a pair of parallel bars, 2| and 22, having upwardly extended ends augmented to constitute a pair of circular apertures, 23 and 24, surmounted by the substantially rectangular ends, 25 and 26, said ends being wider at the top than at the throat.

In the process of assembling the device, the abrasive element, I9, is slid endwise into the circular apertures, 23 and 24, of the housing, 20,

after which the said housing is inserted in the holder, inwardly between the flanges, I3 and I4, and the lugs, l1 and I8, and said flanges closed against the ends, 25 and 26, which are wider at the top than at the throat.

In use the device is held between the thumb and finger laterally or longitudinally, and is placed so the blade will be accommodated longitudinally between the parallel bars, 2| and 22. In the operation of sharpening the blade in this fashion, a concave face will be formed on the working edge of the blade. To remove any burs, the blade, 21, is applied with the side thereof against the abrasive element, l9, and with the skating surface abutting the end portions of the bars, 2| and 22. In this position friction is applied and the bur will thus be removed. Being mounted very loosely in the housing, on use, the abrasive element is automatically centered in the concave face of the skate blade. The frictional action of the blade on the element, imparts to the latter, a laterally creeping movement over the face of the blade. In this manner, the concavity of the blade will have a greater radius than that of the element itself. Fewer strokes would be necessary to effect a sharpening of the blade edges as less metal would have to be removed from the face of the blade.

In the instant device, the parallel bars are at right angles to the skate blade in respect to their width. Thus the objection to the use of relatively wide lips, parallel to the sides of the blade is avoided. In this manner, the guides would not interfere with the tube supporting the blade when the latter has worn down;

It will be understood that the device is capable of various modifications in structure and design without departing from the spirit of the invention, within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a back member, longitudinally downwardly directed flanges on the sides thereof, downwardly directed end portions thereon, lugs depressed from the back adjacent the end portions, a housing comprising a pair of parallel bars with end portions at right angles thereto and including circular apertures therein and terminating in upwardly directed ends adapted to be held between the flanges and. said lugs, and a cylindrical abrasive member adapted to be held with a loose fit in said circular apertures and retained therein by the downwardly directed end members, the said parallel bars being adapted to guide the sharpener in frictional movements on the blade of a skate. 2. A device of the class described comprising a back member, a cylindrical abrasive element loosely held adjacent the back of said device and downwardly projecting end portions of said back for preventing displacement of said cylindrical abrasive element, said abrasive element extending at its ends beyond and below the back member and terminating adjacent the inside of the end portions, the lower part of said abrasive element extending beyond the lower edge of the end portions so as to present unobstructed faces for the removal of burs from side edges of skate blades.

3. In a device of the class described a back member, a housing fixed to said back member, a cylindrical abrasive element loosely held in said housing, means on said back member to prevent displacement of said element, guide means on said housing for articles to be sharpened by friction against the abrasive element, said cylindrical abrasive element positioned so as to have its free ends protrude beyond the housing and to terminate adjacent the inside of the means on the back member to prevent displacement, and part of said cylindrical abrasive element lying below the lower edges of the means on the back member to present a grinding face to remove burs from the side edges of skate blades placed thereagainst.

4. A sharpening device of the character described comprising an abrasive element, and a pair of inter-connected substantially U-shaped members, each having a middle bar portion and outwardly directed end portions, said abrasive element being carried by the end portions of one of said members and held thereby between the bar portions of the two members, the bar portion of one of said members being slotted longitudinally to accommodate a blade to be sharpened by the abrasive element, the latter being loosely mounted in its holding member and held from endwise displacement with respect to both members by the end portions of one of the same.

5. A sharpening device of the character described comprising a back member, an abrasive element, and a holder for said element, said holder being secured to the back member in outwardly extending relation thereto for holding the abrasive element in operative position with respect to the back member, said holder having a bar portion extending along and over the side of the abrasive element opposite to the back members, said bar portion being longitudinally slotted to accommodate at substantially right angles to its width, a blade to be sharpened by the abrasive element and to guide the sharpening device in its movement along the blade, and downwardly projecting scored end and side portions on said back member for gripping said device protectably from said element.

CONSTANT E. NICOLET. 

